Rise of the Queen
Chapter 29

The next morning, Alexa sat up and ran her hands through her hair in frustration, she couldn't sleep a wink last night as lots of things were going on in her mind, she turned her head to the side and noticed Conner sleeping soundly next to her, she smiled at her friend as she pulled on the covers for her and quietly left the room, she went to the training ground and grabbed a seat at the corner. A lot had happened since her birthday, getting attacked, replaceing about her friends' identities, been brought to a secluded and unknown place, replaceing out about her parents, chased around by vampires and last night she stared at her hands which were covered in bood the previous night. She started to tremble with fear, her heart shivered as she remembered the talk about the mystery murder from others, talk about the witch and the accusing glare of Carla.

"No," She shook her head, "No, no, just calm down," She took a deep breath and tried to avoid the negative thoughts but in vain, the more she tried not to think of last night more she was thinking about it.

"Okay, let's think of good things," She took a deep breath and tried again, "good things," She muttered as she gently closed her eyes. The moment she closed her eyes a pair of gentle golden eyes flashed in front of her. A soft smile played on her lips as she remembered his sweet smile, the caring and encouraging words, gentle hands that patted her head, strong arms that held her close making her forget everything and made her feel safe.

*Ahem* Ahem* Someone spoke close to her ear, the voice startled her, her eyes flung open and she turned her head to the direction of the voice, she noticed the green glow flying towards her, she narrowed her eyes at the green figure as she turned into her human form. "you scared me!" Alexa complained.

"I called but you didn't hear me, so I had no choice but to do this," The young girl leaned in close and shouted in her ear. "But what were you thinking about with a creepy smile on your face?" The girl asked her.

Alexa felt her cheeks heating up in an instant, "Nothing!" She shook her head vigorously. "Wait what? Creepy?" She narrowed her eyes at the little pixie.

"Yes, you were here lost in your own world with a wide smile on your face, that was obviously creepy," The girl admitted nodding her head.

Alexa gave her a look, "but what were you thinking anyway?" The girl asked again.

"Nothing," She turned her head away.

"Eh, that's not nothing," The girl instantly turned into a ball of green and came in front of her eyes, "Your highness, you face is red, your heart rate is fast, and that creepy smile definitely isn't nothing," the girl teased her. "Lemme guess, you were thinking about your Alpha king?"

Her eyes widened at her words, "n-no!" She was flustered as she hit the bullseye, she immediately averted her gaze, "and he's not my alpha king, okay?"

"But you like each other don't you? The kiss that you shared in the cave," The pixie flew in front of her and gave her a teasing look, "aww, are-"

Alexa narrowed her eyes at her and flicked her away, "Whoa!" She lost her balance and landed on the floor with a thud in her human form, "That was harsh!" She complained.

Alexa stuck her tongue out, "that's what you get for prying," She shrugged.

The girl got up from the ground and dusted her dress, she then walked to Alexa and sat next to her, "what?" Alexa narrowed her eyes at her. "Why are you denying it?" The girl asked her.

"I'm not denying anything," she shrugged.

"Aren't you his mate?" The girl asked with a coy smile.

"That's..." Alexa trailed off as she hung her head.

"What? What?" The girl excitedly asked, she peered into her face to see a blushing face but instead she found a sad one. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"I don't know, I'm messed up," She shrugged her shoulders, "there's something about him that draws me in and that something turned out to be the mate thing and now I'm confused whether I felt anything real for him or was it all just the mate thing?"

"Is it so?" She flinched at the another voice from behind, "Oh my!" She shouted in surprise, the girl instantly turned into ball of green and hid behind her, Alexa snapped her head at the owner of the voice, "Adira!" She exclaimed. "You scared me!" She complained.

"If you didn't notice my presence, you need to work harder on your senses," The elder werewolf scoffed as she joined her.

"Oh my, it's the elder!" The pixie gulped as she disappeared into thin air.

"Who were you talking to?" Adira asked her as she roamed her eyes around but she didn't replace anyone there.

"Oh it was the pixie," Alexa turned back but the girl wasn't there anymore. "Looks like she ran away," Alexa clicked her tongue as she turned to face her.

"A pixie?" Adira tilted her head to the side.

"Yes, the naughty one who pulled a prank on me, the one I told you about," She answered.

"And you were troubled about something?" Adira raised her brows questioningly.

"Ah, that was nothing," Alexa shook her head in denial, Adira narrowed her eyes at her standing firm, wanting the correct answer from her. Alexa sighed in defeat, "Yes, you heard me," She nodded. "Answer me this first, how do you feel about him?" Adira asked her.

"I don't know, i'm confused," She replied.

"Okay, for a moment keep this mate thing aside and tell me what exactly do you feel about him? What do you think of him?" Adira asked again.

"I..." She trailed off, heaving a sigh she then looked at her elder, "He was kind to me, he was really gentle, I felt comfortable around him, he didn't rush me, he went with my pace, his kind and encouraging words gave me strength, I was scared of the responsibilties but with a single word he would take all my fears and doubts, I could rely on him, I felt safe, his little gestures made my heart flutter, the way he looks at me, his gentle hands that catch me when I fall, he's always there whenever I need him, being with him soothes me, I forget everything but..." She trailed off, "but..."

"But you found out he's your mate and you felt betrayed." Adira completed her sentence.

"Yes, now I'm confused, was I drawn to him only because-"

"I don't know what misconception you have about the mate bond, but let me tell you one thing, the feeling you had when you first saw him, the way he drew you in that was your mate bond," Adira answered her. Alexa raised her face, she was about to say something, "But," Adira continued, "that's it, the mate bond does help you identify your mate, it draws you to them, it does help you feel comfortable with the one another but it can't force you to have feelings for each other," She explained. "You've already got the answers to your questions, the way you feel about him is not because of your mate bond, it's because you've spent time with each other, known each other, the things he did for you made you lean on him, it's because of the time you've spent together, the memories you've created, it's because he has earned your trust and your heart. The mate bond does draw you to each other but it doesn't make your heart flutter, the fuzzy warm feelings you have in your heart, the place that he has made in your heart is not just because of a mate bond, it's place he has made by his own efforts, don't you agree?"

Alexa's eyes widened in realisation, she paused, "But what about him?" She asked.

"Hmm?" Adira's brow quirked up.

"I mean what about his feelings then? We didn't even know each other until a month ago..." She casted her gaze down as she twidled her thumbs.

"Oh he hasn't told you yet?" Adira was surprised.

Alexa raised her brows in question, "You've met before, you captured his heart way long back," Adira chuckled as she answered, "You know we don't exactly know who our mates are until a certain age, only after you've attained that age you can replace who your mate is, it usually varies from 16-18, but Reagan liked you long before he found out you're his mate," She paused and stared at Alexa, "does that reassure you?" She asked.

Alexa's face lightened up in response, she then lowered her gaze as she spoke, "He did tell me we've met before but I don't remember," She answered. "Can you tell me more about it?" She then lifted her face as she met her eyes. "Hey Alex!" They heard from behind, turning around she saw her friends coming their way, she then looked up in the sky, it was already bright, she didn't realise the time with the flow of their conversation.

Alexa then spotted Reagan walking behind her friends, her eyes met his golden ones, he raised his brows at her, she averted her gaze shyly, she then heard Adira clear her throat beside her, "hmm, about your question just now, I think you have to ask him yourself," Adira chuckled in response.